Reds suffer narrow defeat to Charlton (From The Argus)

Reds suffer narrow defeat to Charlton

9:35pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in Sport By Howard Griggs

Crawley produced another competent pre-season display as they went down 1-0 at home to Championship new boys Charlton.

The Reds made eight changes from the side that beat Millwall on Saturday including giving a start to trialist striker Calvin Andrew.

The 25-yard-old, who had a loan spell with Albion in 2009, was released by Crystal Palace at the end of last season.

Crawley had the better of the chances in the first half with Scott Neilson's 25-yard low strike from 25-yards being turned around a post by keeper Ben Hamer and an unmarked Claude Davis headed over from a corner.

However, Charlton led at the interval thanks to Danny Green's excellent free-kick which he curled around the wall and inside the near post.

The second half was marked by a deluge of rain and mass substitutions by both sides.

Crawley's best chance of an equaliser came nine minutes from time when Gary Alexander's deflected cross was turned behind for a corner by Hamer at his near post.

For a full report, reaction and pictures see The Argus tomorrow.